I wrote in my article last week about Arnie’s physical pressing leading to his goal at Bournemouth and then setting up a great opportunity for Masuaku against West Brom . Well his closing down of Lolley on Saturday from a goal kick did the trick again for that opening goal and long may it continue. The first few minutes of the game had passed by with the Terriers knocking the ball around at the back, getting nowhere but keeping possession with mainly side way passes. Watching Arnie chase this way and that had me thinking to myself – “all this is doing is tiring Arnie out, perhaps he should not get drawn into all this rubbish.” But keep going he did and that is one of the reasons he is in the side and not Chico. With no cameras at yesterdays game against Shrewsbury I can’t comment about that match but by all accounts the introduction of Arnie and Mark Noble probably made the difference on the night and a few months ago I doubt many would have predicted that scenario!
When Lanzini banged in number four against Huddersfield it was most enjoyable to just sit back and enjoy a West Ham team win a game without all the usual anxiety that such events provide. You know, the normal one goal lead and we drop deeper and deeper and invite the pressure as we attempt to hang on. We rarely do things the easy way. My thoughts strayed to the IFCF and all those around them having a great time and basking in the glory of a 4-1 away win. Our away fans rightly deserve the plaudits they receive. For every great away result there are always many more defeats. Trudging back from some gloomy faraway town on a winters night with a long drive back home after a loss may be good for the mental fortitude and camaraderie with fellow supporters but the loved ones at home must be questioning their sanity. But a bit like Arnie chasing down so many thankless lost causes there is always a reward that may come along when least expected. Two three goal triumphs in the space of a month will keep the travelling armies spirits up.
I am someone who made a living in environments where stats were thrown at you every day to try and identify strengths and weakness amongst a host of other things. Don’t get me wrong they can be useful but they can also be totally irrelevant and be manipulated for a cause or an argument. I have often said that when you hear the stat “only one win in four” it really means two wins in five. When you see Huddersfield play 48 passes and get nowhere and then us play six and score one of our best goals of the season (the third) it renders possession stats worthless. Just ask Leicester City’s title winning team. Stats are occasionally used to back an argument up, normally based on past results, but quite often past results do not repeat themselves in the future. In football there are a lot of things that influence results beyond your control. Just refer that statement to Robert Madley. So, when you see our latest stat “only one defeat in the past eight PL games” it really means two defeats in nine. In fact in our case, five defeats in fourteen. But that is far too negative and we should be very happy with the progression the side has made over the past few months under David Moyes. There was no initial new manager bounce when he was appointed but the recent run of results are more important than just a bounce. You can see the new man is really enjoying his new job and it is being reflected on the pitch. With each win the pressure eases and the fear factor disappears. Lack of confidence, poor motivation and playing with fear are three ingredients that make just one recipe. Losing. David Moyes has turned that around to add that elusive fourth ingredient – momentum. It is not three hat Michelin star stuff yet but a few more good results and we will be dining in restaurants rather than the specials menu in a back street pub.
Now and again some of my articles ask a question of its readers. So this week it will be who is your early shout for HOTY? For me it would be down to three players with Marko Arnautovic (spelled correctly unlike his shirt the other day) and Angelo Ogbonna both just shading Arthur Masuaku at present. When Arnie was at Stoke I used to love watching him play on TV and was naturally excited to see him join West Ham. After what can only be called a poor start to the season the transformation under David Moyes has seen him become a revelation. Angelo Ogbonna has been with the Hammers for two and a half years now after signing from Juventus in July 2015. In the 2016/17 season he made 25 league and cup appearances before succumbing to an injury that Bilic said he had been carrying for the majority of those games. An operation saw him miss the rest of the season apart from the final game at Burnley. This season we are finally seeing the best of Angelo. Arthur Masuaku has been a breath of fresh air – an entertainer. Despite some defensive weaknesses he has become a fan favourite and he is often the player who provides the outlet to drive us forward. Other players for consideration would be Zabaleta, Adrian, Lanzini and if he continues his fine recent form Mark Noble.
OK, so on to the bookies transfer markets. Not much happening to be honest. I do wonder whether our recent good results and move up the table will influence the club to keep their powder dry until the summer? The interest in Mawson has cooled and he is now an 8-1 (11%) chance to join West Ham from Swansea. The markets have also seen a drift for Newcastle’s Jonjo Shelvey who was 1-2 (66%) last week to 3-1 (38%). The past seven days has seen more focus on the possibility of outgoing players. Lanzini was 11/8 (42%) to join Liverpool last week but the market now suggests he is nailed on for staying put at 1-20 (96%). The louder noises are concerning Andy Carroll who was 1-8 (88%) last week to remain at West Ham and has since been backed into 1-3 (75%) for a move to Chelsea. That suggests a move may be on the cards and if it is perhaps there could be a Chelsea player involved in part of a swap deal. The latest rumours suggest that the Board want to cash in on the injury prone striker but Moyes wants him to stay.